NEWS IN DETAIL

Simitis starts talks in Vienna

Talks in Vienna today and tomorrow between Prime Minister Costas Simitis
and Austrian leaders are expected to centre on developments in the Cyprus
problem, Turkey's relations with Greece and the European Union and regional
issues, according to ANA despatches from the Australian capital.

In an earlier interview with the ANA, the Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima
had expressed support for starting negotiations for Cyprus' accession to
the EU six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference.
If there is a delay in the IGC's sessions, the first phase of Cyprus'
accession negotiations is expected to fall within the Austrian presidency
of the EU, during the second half of 1998.

Of interest to both Greece and Austria is the future of smaller EU member
states following the reform of the EU following the conclusion of the IGC.
Today's talks in Vienna will also include discussion of the EU's Balkan
policy.

Simitis, accompanied by Foreign Undersecretary Yannos Kranidiotis, is to
have meetings with Austrian President Thomas Klestil, Chancellor Viktor
Klima, as well as Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel.
On Wednesday morning, the prime minister leaves Vienna for a working visit
to Germany.

PASOK deputies criticise gov't handlings on relations with Turkey

Criticism by 32 deputies of the ruling PASOK party of the government's
handling of relations with Turkey was "to no purpose", said government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas today.

He was commenting on a letter the deputies had sent to Prime Minister
Costas Simitis protesting what they called the government's "acceptance of
a dialogue between Greece and Turkey".

The government, he added, was defending the nation's interests in a
positive way and needed no reminder from third parties. Reppas reiterated
that Greece's sovereign rights were not an issue for dialogue or negotiation.

Asked whether the issue would be discussed by collective bodies, the
spokesman said discussion in the absence of any specific developments would
be premature, and that the government would make its final decisions once
the effort being made by the Dutch presidency of the European Union
crystallised.

Italian-Greek cooperation stumbles on hindrances, says Gov't

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas admitted this afternoon that there
were hindrances in the Greek-Italian cooperation in the framework of the
security force overseeing the humanitarian aid distribution in Albania.

"We want a more substantial cooperation in order to overcome problems and
speed up our pace so that we will be able to respond to our role," Reppas
said, adding that the Greek-Italian cooperation was developing under
difficult conditions.

The second part of the Greek contingent is leaving for Albania today while
the first part of the Greek force remains at Fieri, awaiting the green
light from the Italian command to move to Vlore.

Reppas also commented on an incident, Saturday, in which a Greek coast
guard speed-boat was stolen from the Ionian port of Preveza and was later
spotted within Albanian territorial waters.

The spokesman said the government would not launch a military operation to
recover the boat.

"We are not willing to launch a military operation in which the lives of
Greek soldiers may be put at risk," he said, adding that the Greek
government was leaning on the help of members of the ethnic Greek community
in Albania to achieve this.

The second part of the Greek contingent departs for Albania

Another 520 Greek troops left Thessaloniki aboard the Greek navy's Samos
and Chios this morning, to participate in the multinational peace force in
Albania. They are expected to arrive in either Durres or Vlore, depending
upon orders from the Italian command, on Wednesday morning. The ships are
also carrying 92 armoured and other army vehicles.

Two other Greek companies arrived in Albania last week, one by air to
Tirana and the other aboard the Samos, which was to have docked in Vlore
but was redirected to Durres. These troops were transported overland from
Durres to Fieri where they are awaiting the go-ahead from the Italians to
proceed to Vlore.

Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos is to visit the troops in Albania on
28 April.

Meanwhile, Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis, who saw the troops
off this morning, said the Greek mission would remain neutral and impartial
and will not interfere in Albania's domestic affairs. The purpose of the
mission, he reiterated, was to oversee the distribution of humanitarian
aid.

Last year's protesting farmers accuse government of persecution

Farmers in Thessaly have accused the government of persecution of farmers
in the form of continued trials of those involved in last year's protests
against the government's agricultural policy.

The coordinating committee of Thessaly farmers has called for a meeting on
the issue on 30 April in Larissa, to which they have invited representatives
of lawyers' unions in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, those representing
farmers facing trial and other organisations in Thessaly.

They have also decided to send a delegation to Parliament on 9 May to brief
political parties on their problems and to hold a press conference.

A rally is to be held outside the Larissa courthouse where on 23 May, the
committee itself as well as individual farmers are to go on trial. The
committee charges that the government "is trying to send a message to the
entire people ... that the same fate awaits all those who stand up and
fight for their rights."

Greece calls for continuation of Middle East peace process

Development Minister Vasso Papandreou yesterday underlined the necessity
for the Middle East peace process to be continued, speaking at the end of
her four-day official visit to Israel and the autonomous Palestinian
territories.

Ms Papandreou stressed that the continuation of a tense situation in the
region has negative consequences on the economies of both Israel and the
Palestinians, as well as on the wider region of the Middle East.

She also noted that the Greek side will promote the peace process, aimed at
mobilising the European Union in this direction.

On Saturday, Ms Papandreou met with Palestinian Authority President Yasser
Arafat and discussed the course of the peace process and the possibilities
of economic cooperation between Greece and the Palestinians.

Speaking after a meeting with Ms Papandreou in Ramallah, Mr. Arafat said
"we are very happy to have the Greek delegation here. I cannot forget all
you have offered us in the past, in the present and in the future.

"Ms Papandreou's presence here greatly promotes Greek-Palestinian
relations. As you know, there is a European effort for peace, which began
in Malta, which we must reinforce."

Questioned on the course of Israeli-Palestinian relations, Mr. Arafat noted
that "the most important thing at present is the respect of what we have
agreed on. Without doubt, the European initiative is very important for the
promotion of the peace proce ss and the protection of the peace," he
said.

Ms Papandreou said "We discussed their just struggle. Greece is always by
the side of the Palestinians". "They are struggling to find justice and we
will support them, as always, on a bilateral level and within the framework
of the European Union.

"We believe it is necessary for the peace process to continue for the good
of the peoples who live here and for the good of the whole region."

During their meeting, the two discussed the prospects of cooperation
between Greek and Palestinian businesses in the tourism and commerce
sectors, and the promotion of exports.

They also reached an agreement to provide scholarships for Palestinian
students to study in Greek tourism schools and for Palestinian researchers
to be trained in various sectors.

There was also an agreement for the establishment of a permanent Greek-
Palestinian committee to promote cooperation in specific investment
programmes.

Papandreou meets with Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Friday, Ms Papandreou visited the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and met with
Patriarch Diodoros. The Greek development minister stressed the importance
of the Patriarchate, which she said "constitutes a source of strength for
Hellenism".

Patriarch Diodoros stressed that the Patriarchate is fighting to safeguard
centuries-old traditions.

The Patriarch briefed Ms Papandreou on the seizure of areas belonging to
the Patriarchate of Jerusalem by several groups of local Muslim residents.
He said he has been assured by Jordanian authorities that the issue will be
resolv ed shortly.

During Ms Papandreou's meetings with Israeli officials at the begining of
her visit to the region, the Israeli government expressed particular
interest in the supply of natural gas from Greece. Discussions on tourism
included the possibilities of cooperation between Israel and Greece to
attract tourists from the Far East and the United States.

Liani-Papandreou dismisses press reports

Dimitra Liani-Papandreou, the widow of late PASOK founder Andreas
Papandreou currently embroiled in an inheritance battle with three of
Papandreou's children, has issued a statement in response to what she
characterised as "fabricated" press reports.

Some newspapers reported today that Liani-Papandreou is threatening to
reveal secrets about the Papandreou family, prompted by a dispute over
property inheritance.

Liani-Papandreou said she had made no statements to any journalist, nor had
she authorised any third party to speak for her, therefore any statements
attributed to her in the press were "imaginary or fabricated."

With regard to a book she is about to publish, Papandreou's widow says it
is "a book about Andreas Papandreou by his wife.. it's sole objective is to
protect his memory and his place in history".

"If some people are seeking petty political dimensions (to the issue) or
appearances on 'reality shows', let them look elsewhere," she concluded.

Messages on 30th anniversary of military coup in Greece

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday issued a message
on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the April 21, 1967 military coup
which resulted in a seven-year dictatorship in Greece.

"The 30 years that have passed since the imposition of the military
dictatorship provide us with an opportunity to attribute once again the
honour owed to those who resisted the oppressive regime with courage and
democratic ideals and, of course, to the great majority of the Greek people,
who never strayed from their democratic beliefs," he said.

In his message, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said "the
great achievements of the post-dictatorship era are the restoration of
democratic legality, establishment of popular rule, the strengthening of
political normality and political stability as well as the effective
defence of national sovereign rights."

The Main opposition New Democracy party stressed in a press release that
fortification of democratic institutions and the support of social cohesion,
as necessary conditions for a required national renaissance, must be
continuous.

Illegal sales of lambs as Easter nears

As Orthodox Holy Week begins, two instances of illegal sales of lambs have
already been discovered.

A flock of 179 lambs smuggled over the border from Albania were found in
Florina on their way to a slaughterhouse in the village of Lemos. Farmer
George Reppas bought the animals in Albania and sold them to Lambros
Lykomanis, of Trigono, Florina. The two men had obtained a false certificate
of sale signed by the mayor of Antartiko, another village in the prefecture
of Florina.

In Thessaloniki meanwhile, another 260 lambs were slaughtered without the
required veterinary supervision, at a farm owned by Constantinos Asteriou,
near Thessaloniki. The meat (about two tonnes) had been loaded onto a
refrigerated truck owned by butcher Ioannis Marougas for transport to
Athens where they were to be sold.

Humanitarian aid to Albania

A Greek air force C-130 left for Tirana today carrying the first instalment
of 18 tonnes of food and medical aid for the Albanian people. The remainder
is expected to be delivered over the next few days.

Illegal drug trade in Greece estimated at 350 billion drachma

The annual turnover in the illicit drug trade in Greece is estimated at 350
billion drachmas, Health and Welfare Undersecretary Manolis Skoulakis said
at a conference in Thessaloniki on Saturday, stressing the importance of
preventive measures.

Speaking at the same conference, Organisation for the Fight Against Drugs
(OKANA) president Mary Malliori announced the establishment of prevention
centres throughout Greece in the next three years.

WEATHER

Humidity and a further rise in temperatures are forecast for most parts of
the country today, with some local cloudiness and possible rainfall in the
northwestern regions in the evening. Winds will be southerly, becoming
strong in the Ionian Sea, and moderate in the east. Athens will be party
cloudy with temperatures between 10-22C. Same in Thessaloniki with
temperatures between 7-18C.